One of the biggest questions people have before moving day is:
“What should I pack before the movers arrive?”
The answer depends on the type of moving service you've hired.
If you've hired movers primarily for loading, transportation, and unloading, you'll generally want your smaller household belongings packed and ready before the crew arrives. If you've arranged professional packing services, the moving company may handle some or all of the packing for you.
Understanding what you should prepare ahead of time can make moving day more organized and help the movers focus on safely handling your furniture and belongings.
This guide explains what to pack before movers arrive, what to leave for professional movers, what you should keep with you, and how to prepare your home for moving day.
If you're handling your own packing, the goal should be to have most of your smaller household belongings boxed, sealed, and labeled before moving day.
This includes things such as:
The more organized these items are before the movers arrive, the easier it can be for the moving crew to concentrate on the larger parts of the move.
For many residential moves, the movers' primary work may involve preparing furniture, wrapping furniture, loading the truck, transporting the belongings, unloading, and placing furniture in the new home.
You don't need to pack your entire home at once.
A room-by-room approach can make the process much more manageable.
Begin with things you can live without for a while.
Examples include:
Getting these items packed early reduces the amount of work you'll have close to moving day.
Leave your everyday necessities until closer to the move.
These might include:
You want to avoid packing something you'll need the morning before the move.
A good strategy is to think of your final box as a “last day” box containing things you'll use right up until you leave.
One of the most important things to remember is that not everything should go on the moving truck.
Prepare a bag or suitcase that stays with you.
Keep important documents accessible, including items such as:
Include:
Pack simple snacks and water so you aren't relying on your kitchen being accessible throughout the move.
If you're moving with children, consider keeping:
with you.
If you're traveling with pets, keep their essential supplies accessible as well.
Some belongings may be better kept with you rather than placed on the moving truck.
Always ask your moving company about items they cannot or do not transport.
Items you may want to keep with you can include:
Your moving company can also tell you which household items may be restricted from transportation.
Don't assume that everything in your home can automatically go onto the moving truck.
Usually, furniture isn't something you need to “box up.”
Professional movers typically handle the preparation and movement of larger household furniture.
Depending on the service you've arranged, the moving crew may:
Instead of trying to dismantle or wrap everything yourself, ask the moving company what preparation is included.
At Falco Moving Company, many residential customers already have their smaller belongings boxed before the crew arrives. Falco can then focus on wrapping furniture, loading and unloading the truck, and placing furniture where the customer wants it.
This depends on the furniture and the moving company's process.
Some furniture may be easier or safer to move after being partially disassembled.
Examples can include:
However, don't automatically take everything apart yourself.
Ask the moving company what it prefers.
If you dismantle furniture unnecessarily, you may create additional work when it comes time to reassemble everything.
Good packing isn't just about putting things into boxes.
You want your boxes to be organized and easy to identify.
A box that is too heavy can be difficult to move and may be more likely to fail.
Use appropriately sized boxes for different types of belongings.
Excess space can allow belongings to shift during transportation.
Use appropriate packing materials to help keep contents secure.
Clearly write:
ROOM + CONTENTS
For example:
KITCHEN — COFFEE MAKER
PRIMARY BEDROOM — BEDDING
OFFICE — BOOKS
BATHROOM — TOWELS
You can also add:
FRAGILE
when appropriate.
Yes.
Room-based labeling can make unloading much easier.
Instead of asking where every box belongs, movers can use the labels to help direct boxes to the appropriate areas of the new home.
Consider using a consistent labeling system throughout the house.
For example:
You can also use different colored labels or markers if that helps your household stay organized.
Kitchens can take longer to pack because they contain so many small items.
Consider packing:
Wrap fragile kitchenware carefully.
Try not to make boxes containing dishes or cookware excessively heavy.
Don't pack absolutely everything.
Keep a few basic items available until the last moment, such as:
Then pack these items into your essentials bag or final kitchen box before leaving.
Bedrooms can usually be organized fairly easily.
Pack:
Keep out the clothes and toiletries you'll need on moving day and the first night at your new home.
Your existing suitcases can be useful for clothing and personal belongings.
There's no need to put every item into a cardboard box if you already have luggage available.
Pack:
Keep medications and essential toiletries with you rather than loading them onto the moving truck.
Living rooms often contain a combination of furniture and smaller belongings.
Pack:
Larger furniture pieces generally don't need to be boxed.
Your movers can typically handle the larger furniture as part of the moving process, depending on the service you've arranged.
Pack:
Keep important documents and sensitive personal information with you when appropriate.
Before moving, make sure important electronic files are backed up.
Garages can be one of the most difficult areas to prepare because they often contain years of accumulated belongings.
Start early.
Sort items into categories:
Keep
Donate
Sell
Dispose
Move
Don't automatically move everything simply because it's already in the garage.
Moving is a good opportunity to eliminate items you no longer use.
Also ask your moving company about items that may not be permitted for transportation.
Don't forget closets.
Check:
It's easy to overlook items because they are hidden behind doors.
A simple trick is to work through the house one closet at a time.
These spaces should be included in your packing plan.
Because they are often used for items that aren't needed every day, they're good places to start.
Sort everything before packing.
Ask yourself:
“Would I buy this again today?”
If the answer is no, consider whether it's worth paying to move it.
Ask your moving company.
Some lightweight furniture drawers may be able to remain in place, while other furniture may need to be emptied for safe handling.
Heavy drawers can add significant weight to furniture.
If you're unsure, ask before moving day rather than discovering the issue when the movers arrive.
Plan ahead for your refrigerator and freezer.
You'll generally need to remove food and prepare the appliances appropriately for transportation.
Because requirements can vary, ask your moving company about its specific expectations for refrigerators, freezers, and other appliances.
Don't wait until the morning of the move to figure this out.
Start earlier than you think you need to.
A common mistake is underestimating how much time packing takes.
A home may contain thousands of individual items, even if the rooms don't appear particularly cluttered.
Start with things you rarely use and gradually work toward your everyday belongings.
Your final days should be about finishing the details—not trying to pack your entire house.
Start with:
Pack:
Pack:
Prepare:
You should have a few things readily available.
Keep out:
If you're staying overnight in your new home, also keep out:
That's when professional packing services can be helpful.
If you've arranged for movers to provide packing, communicate exactly what you want them to pack.
A professional packing service can save significant time for customers who are:
If you need packing help, ask your moving company about full-service packing when requesting your moving estimate.
There's no universally correct choice.
Packing yourself can make sense if you:
Professional packing may make sense if you:
The right choice depends on your schedule, budget, and preferences.
Communication can make a big difference.
Let your moving company know about:
Don't assume the moving crew will automatically know about circumstances you haven't mentioned.
Use this checklist before your movers arrive.
If you've hired movers primarily for loading and transportation, it's generally best to have your smaller household belongings packed and ready. If you've hired professional packing services, the moving company may handle some or all of the packing.
Some moving companies offer packing services, but the exact service varies. Ask your moving company whether clothing packing is included.
Ask your moving company. Some drawers may need to be emptied depending on the furniture and how it will be moved.
Yes. Don't forget closets when packing. Hidden storage areas are among the easiest places to accidentally leave belongings behind.
Keep important valuables and irreplaceable personal items with you whenever appropriate. Ask your moving company about its policies for valuable or restricted items.
Not necessarily. Ask your movers what they recommend. Some furniture may benefit from disassembly, while other pieces can be moved as-is.
Start several weeks before moving day if possible. Begin with items you rarely use and gradually work toward your everyday belongings.
Keep important documents, medications, valuables, electronics, keys, chargers, and anything you'll need immediately after arriving at your new home.
The question “What should I pack before movers arrive?” is really about separating your responsibilities from the work you're hiring professional movers to handle.
Your smaller household belongings should generally be organized, packed, sealed, and labeled when you're responsible for packing.
Your movers can then focus on the physical work of preparing, loading, transporting, unloading, and placing your larger belongings according to the services you've arranged.
And if you don't have the time or desire to pack your entire home yourself, professional packing services may be a worthwhile option.
The most important thing is to communicate with your moving company before moving day so everyone understands what is being packed, what is being moved, and what services you've requested.
Falco Moving Company provides residential moving services in Asheville, North Carolina, Las Vegas, Nevada, and the Nashville, Tennessee area.
Falco offers local and long-distance residential moving services, as well as professional packing options for customers who want additional help preparing for their move.
If you're planning a move, contact Falco Moving Company to discuss your needs and request a quote.